BOISE -- In the last week, vandals have spray-painted graffiti and left burned flags outside several Meridian School District schools located in west Boise. Overnight Wednesday, one of the schools, Pioneer Elementary, was vandalized again.
Boise Police are continuing to investigate the vandalism. Most times vandalism like this would be a misdemeanor, but police say the extent of damage from all the incidents could be over $1,000, putting this case into felony territory.
Anyone with information should contact Boise Police.
Now, local American Legion posts are collecting money to offer a reward for help finding the people responsible.
District officials say vandalism of this nature is uncommon, especially the flag burnings.
"None of it is particularly common, but I don't remember incidents like this really very often in my 10 years with the district," Meridian School District spokesman Eric Exline said.
Some of the graffiti has been anti-American; some, like the most recent at Pioneer Elementary has been difficult to make out.
With the unusual vandalism, particularly the flag burnings, local American Legion posts are calling the acts "shameful."
"We as veterans are outraged at the burning of our flag on school grounds," American Legion Post 113 Commander Frank Kenny said. "This vandalism continues almost nightly at our schools and elsewhere in our community. It is up to us, the citizens who call this state and city home to do something to stop this immediately,"
With multiple incidents, Kenny wants to help police get tips to find the vandals. Flanked by Boy Scouts, that help properly burn old American flags in retirement ceremonies, Frank made an announcement on Thursday.
"We are taking a monetary collection from five posts to help aid the police with successful tips to collect and catch those responsible," Kenny said.
The school district hopes the reward offering might pay off and help catch the people responsible.
"Rewards are very helpful, and I would say thanks. It's kind of another example of members of our community or groups in our community stepping forward and trying to help the school system," Exline said.
While it appears the burned flags and anti-American graffiti may be connected, school officials say this latest incident of graffiti Wednesday night appears to be unrelated.
